Medical cannabis has shown effective in improving symptoms of ailments for which a number of first line treatments have failed. Symptoms included (but are not limited to) sleep issues, mood, pain management, appetite, nausea, vomiting. Medical cannabis is not a first line treatment for any of these conditions and will be considered only after these traditional treatments have failed.

How should I take medical marijuana?

The recommended route for taking medical cannabis is through a vaporizer, rather than smoked. Vaporizers will heat the medical cannabis enough to release the medical components for inhalation, but not high enough to combust the plant material. Medical cannabis can also be taken orally in food products. At this point in time, Health Canada does not allow for licensed producers to send edibles, oils or any other forms of medical marijuana to patients. Only the dried marijuana flowers are permitted.

What does the medical document cover?

The medical document covers basic information including physician information, quantity required and duration of use. In this regard, it is similar to a prescription. A sample medical document can be accessed on Health Canada’s website. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/marihuana/info/med-eng.php

What is the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations(MMPR)?

The Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) is the new set of regulations from Health Canada for growing, buying and selling medical cannabis in Canada. It outlines a system for doctors, patients and large-scale commercial growers. These growers are called Licensed Producers (LPs). Under the new regulations, healthcare providers are the only individuals legally able to prescribe medical cannabis to patients. A physician can provide the patient with a medical document, which is similar to a prescription, which recommends the dosage and duration of time that cannabis be used. To obtain access to medical cannabis, patients must send their medical document to a Licensed Producer, who will then send the filled prescription to the patient via mail or bonded courier. The MMPR replaces the previous rules of the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR), which were officially repealed on March 31, 2014.

How do I access medical cannabis?

If after an assessment your physician agrees that medical cannabis is a suitable treatment option, you will be given a medical document indicating your recommended dose. Once you have this document, you will need to register with one of the cannabis producers licensed by Health Canada. This producer will collect payment and ship your medical cannabis to your home.

Can I grow medical cannabis myself or can I designatesomeone to grow it for me?

No, under the new regulations you are no longer allowed to grow for yourself or to designate someone to grow medical cannabis for you. If you already have a license to grow, a recent court injunction allows you to continue growing until the court case has been heard.

How do I sign up for the Marijuana for Medical PurposesRegulations (MMPR)?

Patients wishing to access medical cannabis no longer need to contact Health Canada. Instead, the responsibility of authorizing patients falls entirely on physicians. In order to attain medical cannabis from a Licensed Producer (LP), patients need to have a medical document completed by a physician, which is similar to a prescription filled by a physician.

How do I obtain my medicalcannabis?

If you qualify for medical cannabis, the physician will give you a prescription at the end of your appointment. The prescription can be sent to any licensed producer (LP) who will then send your medication by mail or courier.

How much does medical marijuana cost?

The cost for medical marijuana is set by the individual Licensed Producers (LP). Current cost ranges between $5 and $11 a gram. Most patients will use 1 to 3 grams a day.

Is medical cannabis covered byOHIP or Insurance?

Medical cannabis is not covered by OHIP and only under rare instances by private insurance. If you have private insurance or deal with Veterans Affairs our physicians can help with applying for coverage.

If you are a veteran you may qualify for complete Coverage of cannabis through the veteran’s affairs.

Cannabis Advocates

The cannabis advocates website is devoted to assisting patients in finding the best cannabis option for their particular set of medical and health challenges.